Our first ever Sparkle Steps raises over £12,500!

We are delighted to say that our first ever Sparkle Steps event raised an enormous £12,500 as part of our ‘Spring in your Step’ challenge, more than doubling its original £5,000 target.

The fundraiser, which took place from 11th – 20th March, saw participants running, walking, cycling and even using scooters to help raise money and support vulnerable children in Malawi.

Individuals were required to reach ten miles in ten days as part of the campaign, but many chose to extend this, including former Kingstonian FC player Adam ‘Thommo’ Thompson who opted to run and cycle 100 miles in 10 days. As part of his monumental efforts, Thommo raised an incredible £2,100 for Sparkle.


Thommo commented: “The Kingstonian Football Club has long established links with Sparkle Malawi and it was an absolute delight to take part in the Sparkle Steps challenge to raise much needed funds. Over the 10 days, I met up with several former Kingstonian players en route, all socially distanced of course! I can’t thank those who have supported me on this journey enough – I’m truly humbled by everyone’s generosity.”


Matching the efforts of Thommo is seven-year-old Ralph Rowley from Lytham St Anne’s, Lancashire, and who raised an incredible £2,000 by walking a mile every day. He opted to support The Sparkle Foundation as part of his Beavers personal challenge award, fitting in his walks before and after school, even doing so one day in his pyjamas following World Book Day.


Sarah Brook, Founder and CEO at The Sparkle Foundation, said: “I would like to personally thank both Thommo and Ralph and all our supporters for their outstanding efforts to raise funds for The Sparkle Foundation. For us, the Spring in your Step challenge was about bringing individuals closer to nature and closer together emotionally, given the tremendous circumstances we’ve all experienced over the past year.


“It was a delight to see all those who participated truly going the extra mile for Sparkle. From walking, running, cycling and swimming to skateboarding, using a scooter and more, everyone who participated will make a real difference to vulnerable children in Malawi. After such a difficult year, we are so proud of the efforts everyone, whether participant or donor, has made to help The Sparkle Foundation. Thank you!”


What Britain's Aid Cut to Malawi Means for Charities on the Ground

What Britain's Aid Cut to Malawi Means for Charities on the Ground

By Talhia Le Berre • August 4, 2026
UK government funding to Malawi is on track to drop by around 90 per cent within two years, from K117.9 billion down to K11.7 billion by 2028. The figures emerged in Parliament last week, where Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha faced questions from MP Francis Belekanyama on how such a steep reduction would affect budget delivery. The Minister's position was that the national budget itself is not at risk, since the reduction had already been built into government planning.  Where he was less reassuring was on who absorbs the impact. Per the report, it is Malawi's NGOs, not the state, that are expected to feel this most, given how many rely on UK funding to run health, education and social protection work.

The Four Words That Built an Ambassador

By Talhia Le Berre • July 20, 2026
The Sparkle Foundation Podcast is where we shine a light on the extraordinary people behind our mission: volunteers, changemakers, and champions who show up, roll up their sleeves, and prove that one person really can make a difference. Each episode is an honest, unscripted conversation about what drives people to give back, and what happens when they do. Hosted by Sarah Brook , Founder and CEO of The Sparkle Foundation. 

Students Rally Their Community to Support The Sparkle Foundation’s Medical Outreach Programme

July 6, 2026
We are incredibly proud to partner with Haileybury, an independent school in Hertford, United Kingdom, whose students consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to service, leadership and global citizenship. Through initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, students have supported The Sparkle Foundation by organising creative fundraising events that make a tangible difference to the communities we serve in Malawi. One such student is Eva Kinsey, who was part of the team that organised a community quiz night in support of our Medical Outreach Programme. Eva kindly wrote the reflection below, capturing the experience from a student's perspective. We are delighted to share her account of the evening and the impact that was made.